Innovations and Modes of Existence of Semiconductor chips in South Korea and Taiwan

• In Event: 50462 - Section on Science, Knowledge, and Technology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 13: Innovation and the Market

Abstract

This paper aims to deconstruct the existing knowledge surrounding semiconductor industrial innovations in East Asia by inquiring into the modes of existence of semiconductor chips. It is argued that the fabrication of semiconductor chips, as a process of assemblage, embodies both ontic pluralism and existential pluralism. The initiative for semiconductor industrial activities in both South Korea and Taiwan began in the 1970s with the establishment of assembly sites for U.S. electronics companies. Samsung, based in South Korea, and TSMC, located in Taiwan, are now leaders in the most advanced manufacturing technologies within the global semiconductor industry. A traditional explanation for the rapid advancement of technology is a model known as 'imitation to innovation,' proposed by Linsu Kim in 1997. However, from the perspective of assemblage, this model may not hold true. From the very beginning of chip assembly, technological innovations have been continuous processes in which heterogeneous assemblages at multiple levels—such as form, concept, and value—contribute to the advancement of new semiconductor device structures, manufacturing principles, problem-solving models, human-machine interactions, and organizational frameworks. Furthermore, as a matter of concern rather than a matter of fact, Moore’s Law is realizable. This is particularly true for East Asian engineers, who prepare their minds to engage in assembling various elements and create their anaphoric experiences along the trajectory of Moore’s Law. The modes of existence of semiconductor chips render East Asian innovations irreplaceable and inimitable. Moreover, the achievements of South Korea and Taiwan are not solely the result of geopolitical factors; rather, they stem from broader processes of assemblage that encompass technological, cultural, and political domains. These assemblage processes have allowed both societies to thrive for over a century since the colonial era and continue to influence the current geopolitical landscape.

Author

• Tzung-wen Chen, National Chengchi University